Signal No. 2 lifted as Auring weakens into a tropical depression

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was lifted in all areas as Auring weakened into a tropical depression late Sunday night, PAGASA announced In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin.

The weather bureau said the center of Auring was located 210 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at 10 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was moving west-northwest at 15 kph.

However, despite Auring weakening into a tropical depression, TCWS No. 1 was still up in:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Albay
• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• the northern and eastern portions of Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Bais City, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso)
• the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Murcia, San Carlos City, Bacolod City, Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso)
• the eastern portion of Iloilo (Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, San Rafael, Barotac Viejo, Banate, Passi City, San Enrique, Dingle, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles)
• the eastern portion of Capiz (Cuartero, Dumarao, Ma-Ayon, Pontevedra, Panay, President Roxas, Panitan, Dao, Pilar)

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• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Lianga, Barobo, San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, Tago, San Miguel, Tandag City, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, Carrascal)
• Agusan del Norte
• the northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Sibagat)
• the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Medina, Talisayan, Claveria, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Salay)
• Camiguin

Auring was forecast to continue moving generally northwestward in the next 24 hours, and would likely still make initial landfall over the Dinagat Islands-Eastern Samar (southern portion including Homonhon Island)-Leyte area in the next 6 to 12 hours.

PAGASA added there was an “increasing likelihood” that Auring would further weaken before it makes landfall.

“Post-landfall, Auring is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction and the increasing wind shear, leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours, possibly sooner.”

Hazards

From Sunday night to Monday morning, moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Camiguin, while light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains will be experienced in the Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, MIMAROPA, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas, Caraga and Northern Mindanao.

From Monday morning to Monday evening, moderate to heavy rains will prevail over the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon, while light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains will be experienced in Aurora, and the rest of Visayas, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.

“Under these conditions, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are likely during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” PAGASA said.

“Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” it added.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said the combined effects of the northeast monsoon and Auring will bring strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts over areas under TCWS No. 1 as well as over the southern portion of Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region.

Further, rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1 (2.5 to 4.0 meters), the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon not under TCWS (2.5 to 3.5 m), the southern seaboard of Luzon and the remaining seaboards of Visayas (2.5 to 3.0 m).

Moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.0m) will also prevail over the remaining seaboards of the country.

“Sea travel is risky especially for those using small seacrafts,” PAGASA said.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” it added. — DVM, GMA News